Glad you liked him , Jim .
Classical Music for Aficionados
I would like to start a thread, similar to Orpheus’ jazz site, for lovers of classical music.
I will list some of my favorite recordings, CDs as well as LP’s. While good sound is not a prime requisite, it will be a consideration.
Classical music lovers please feel free to add to my lists.
Discussion of musical and recording issues will be welcome.
I’ll start with a list of CDs. Records to follow in a later post.
Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique. Chesky — Royal Phil. Orch. Freccia, conductor.
Mahler: Des Knaben Wunderhorn. Vanguard Classics — Vienna Festival Orch. Prohaska, conductor.
Prokofiev: Scythian Suite et. al. DG — Chicago Symphony Abbado, conductor.
Brahms: Symphony #1. Chesky — London Symph. Orch. Horenstein, conductor.
Stravinsky: L’Histoire du Soldat. HDTT — Ars Nova. Mandell, conductor.
Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances. Analogue Productions. — Dallas Symph Orch. Johanos, cond.
Respighi: Roman Festivals et. al. Chesky — Royal Phil. Orch. Freccia, conductor.
All of the above happen to be great sounding recordings, but, as I said, sonics is not a prerequisite.
I will list some of my favorite recordings, CDs as well as LP’s. While good sound is not a prime requisite, it will be a consideration.
Classical music lovers please feel free to add to my lists.
Discussion of musical and recording issues will be welcome.
I’ll start with a list of CDs. Records to follow in a later post.
Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique. Chesky — Royal Phil. Orch. Freccia, conductor.
Mahler: Des Knaben Wunderhorn. Vanguard Classics — Vienna Festival Orch. Prohaska, conductor.
Prokofiev: Scythian Suite et. al. DG — Chicago Symphony Abbado, conductor.
Brahms: Symphony #1. Chesky — London Symph. Orch. Horenstein, conductor.
Stravinsky: L’Histoire du Soldat. HDTT — Ars Nova. Mandell, conductor.
Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances. Analogue Productions. — Dallas Symph Orch. Johanos, cond.
Respighi: Roman Festivals et. al. Chesky — Royal Phil. Orch. Freccia, conductor.
All of the above happen to be great sounding recordings, but, as I said, sonics is not a prerequisite.
3,872 responses Add your response
Ivan Moravec His Chopin Nocturnes are recognized as best ever. Moravec was already well known in Czechoslovakia when he was "discovered" by Alan Silver, who ran Connoisseur Records.Alan recorded him playing Chopin, and helped him get his first engagements in USA. Alan was incredibly skilled at making recordings, although what he actually did was considerably simpler than big time producer/directors. I knew Alan in Berkeley in 1967, nice man. |
Post removed |
Stephen Hough I hear there is a new recording of Beethoven Concertos since the Brahms you mention. I love Stephen Hough. My fav is his Mompou. But don't take my word for it: http://www.stephenhough.com/ https://www.classicfm.com/artists/stephen-hough/guides/facts-gallery/ |
Post removed |
Post removed |
Yup, Hough is what they say he is ! Correct way to play Haydn. Original Instruments . https://youtu.be/4eQKUffDkaw?t=7 |
One of THE greatest trios ever written by anybody, anytime, anywhere and under any circumstance ! Period . https://youtu.be/aanDMH7GEZE?t=2 |
Dina Ugorskaja Bach Fugue No 24 in B Minor, BWV 869 exquisite recently deceased Dina is daughter of Anatol Anatol is still going strong one of my favorite recordings is the two of them playing together https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HH5lgcw6eD4 |
Certainly plays for the Great One and not herself ! He’s one I’ve listen to a lot , comments over the two would be welcome. Piano is not my wheelhouse , I argue over String Qt. https://youtu.be/RjXZYBbrBDk?t=3 |
Shostakovich box set , wdr , barshai. The recording of Symphony 8 has made it my new favorite of his:-) https://youtu.be/PpE6IUj4y8I |
The gorgeous Rachmaninoff Cello Sonata is finally fully realized in a new recording by two young musicians: Hee-Young Lim and Nathalie Milstein. It’s usually performed as a vehicle for cellists to shine. This rendering includes the pianist as, at the very least, an active partner. It’s heartbreakingly beautiful Rachmaninoff. I just discovered it on Idagio after seeing it listed elsewhere. It’s on a brand new Sony release which contains the Prokofiev Cello Sonata as well. |
Socially this is the most important post ever on here , The first clip he is refers to is "Neese Dorma." And we send black kids to rat-ridden falling down schools with teachers who can’t teach . https://youtu.be/d-utPde8ckw?t=5 |
#3 The best I have heard is Otto Klemperer With the Philharmonia Orchestra .on a EMI Great Recording of The Century / Its in 1955 mono which is fine for me . If not for you there is a stunning 3 with the Basle Chamber Orch./ underGiovanni Antonini on Sony Classical ,. The best sounding and and very well done Beethoven is 2&70n BIS with the Minnesota Orch. /Osmo Vanska One of THE most beautiful recordings I have ever heard . P.S. Barbirolli never made a bad record , Nothing wrong with VonKarajin 3rds There is a very good 1,2, 3 on a DVD I have . Michael Gielen/ German SWR Orch . Which is one of the fine German Radio Orchs. klem |
I have a wonderful Eroica from Sir Charles MacKerras with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra only it is not a recording you can buy. It was a concert in Glasgow recorded by the BBC for later broadcast. I was at the original concert and was at home a number of weeks later when it was aired. I have to say that it magically appeared onto my hard drive and for the life of me I can't understand why, but all I can say it is the very best I have ever heard even counting the Klemperer one and I don't say that lightly. |
My Favorite String Quartet Fifty years ago, the Alban Berg Quartet was founded. A huge box set, comforting yet daring, is an immersive celebration. The two occasions on which I saw them, however — a Bartok-Mozart program in London and a gripping Schubert concert at Carnegie Hall — are highlights of my musical life. Those performances also confirmed that the Berg sounded just as immaculate live as on record.quoted from NYT behind paywall https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/14/arts/music/alban-berg-string-quartet.html |
I just reached into my vinyl collection and dragged out a British EMI Eminence reissue of the Beet's Eroica Symphony played by the London Symphony Orchestra under Eugen Jochum. The performance is uniformly loud and in-your-face. Good imaging but the sound is a bit gritty. I'm betting I got the LP from a record store's used bin. |
@schubert Len, yes I used to love MacKerras with the BBC Scots in fact I have been to many of his outings with the band at City Hall Candelriggs as I used to have subs. for the BBC Scots and the SNO before they became the RSNO. MacKerras did some really great Mozart Symphonies with the Beeb band and they were highly thought of . He also brought Janacek to the Glasgow crowd and i heard wonderful playing of Taras Bulba , Four Preludes and Sinfonietta. Great pity he is gone now as I really enjoyed anything he played and the BBC orchestra were really upset when he passed. |
I've been listening to Schubert Trio #2 by Rubenstein and Fournier. Beautiful work, truly a masterpiece. I am partial to Brahms # 2 and # 3 I like #1 too but its an early work and first movement is a bit too long. Last 3rd movement is masterful. Trio #3 is tightly woven, a hauntingly beautiful work in a minor key. Trio #2 is one of my favorite of all classical pieces - more joyous in a major key. |
Listening to the second disc of Trifonov’s 2-CD "Transcendental" Liszt set. And it’s just as extraordinarily good as the first! I’ve listened to a lot of Liszt piano over the last few months, and I have to say that I find Trifonov the most convincing performer of music that did not move me all that often. On another note, I’ve become mildly obsessed with Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody #5 "Heroide-elegiaque". I have Howard’s version. Anybody have any particular favorite performance? |
Not sure if this has been mentioned but the Piano puzzler is a podcast that is a lot of fun. Bruce Adolph is a genius. Check it out https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5wdWJsaWNyYWRpby5vcmcvcHVibGljX2ZlZWRzL3BpYW5vLXB... |
God said , Love thy Neighbor . In 2 days , July 1st . the USA has a neighbor that we have a 5,000 border with that has always been true and from which we could learn much July 1 is their July 4th . Here is a lovely Symphonic rendition of the National Anthem .of a Great Nation . https://youtu.be/ABGW92k2zU4?t=2 Here is a quick vocal version of a land for a nation which I have great respect . https://youtu.be/kRPGPAnPNa8?t=4 |
@twoleftears I do agree with you regarding Trifonov he is an exceptional pianist but I think he still has a few years needed under his belt to reach what he will hopefully become. Talking about his recording of the Transcendental Etudes my favourite performers are Lazar Berman and Claudio Arrau who incidentally was 75 years old at the time. Of course he doesn't have the explosive nature of Berman but his virtuosity was always used for the expressivity of the piece and not to wow everyone . Where Arrau scores is in the quieter more reflective pieces like Vision, Eroica and my favourite Harmonies' du Soir which is truly exceptional. I never could understand how he could produce the rich sonorities and liquid sound that left you in rapt attention. On a different theme now has anyone been listening to any late Beethoven String Quartets lately. I can recommend a wonderful Op.127 and 132 just now from The Hagen Quartet. The string tone is wonderful and I have to admit it doesn't get any better than this. The two slow movements are rapturous and their intonation is unbeatable and this from a man who for the last 40 odd years could not see past the Alban Bergs. Try if you can and listen to them it will definitely cleanse the soul. |
The Hagen is outstanding and , for me , the LvB Quartets are all I have time from him these days , which I guess is saying I see them as his best . One of the best records I ever had is the Yale Qt, doing them.Al least on vinyl they are very rare and have seen them go for 500 $ bucks .I believe there was a CD as well which I have never head , or plan to . If money is an object the Complete CD’s on Naxos with Kodaly Qt. are very good , The Great Op 130 is better than that . |
thanks for the tip re Hagen Quartet, will listen meanwhile now playing lots of Rudolf Serkin there is a 75 cd compilation, and it includes RS playing Beethoven Sonatas for Cello and Piano with Casals never better, they both are as good as it gets, and they leave room for each other too Other recordings include Serkin with Rostropovich and of course with the Busch's + a host of sonatas and concertos |
Pablo Casals includes footage of Casals conducting in 1967 https://www.marlboromusic.org/archives/blog/pablo-casals/ |
I recently purchased a 20 CD set of Rubinstein playing Chopin. I haven't been able to listen to all of it yet, but while it is obviously from old recordings so the SQ is not always of a top level, the playing is superb. I am always in the market for the best interpreters of my favorite - Chopin. I've seen Moravec mentioned several times. |